{{Quote|Volantis is the oldest, the first colony of [[Valyria]]. After the [[Doom of Valyria|Doom]], the Volantenes tried to rebuild the empire under their rule. They failed. Not least because the last Valyrian with dragons, [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon Targaryen]], entered [[Century of Blood|the war against them]]. Now they are content to dominate only their lower classes, or so they say.|Ser [[Jorah Mormont]], discussing the Free Cities|The Free Cities (Histories & Lore)}}

[[Image:Volantis.png|right|thumb|200px|Map showing the location of '''Volantis''' on the continent of [[Essos]].]]

[[Image:Volantis.png|right|thumb|200px|Map showing the location of '''Volantis''' on the continent of [[Essos]].]]

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'''Volantis''' is one of the [[Free Cities]] located to the east of [[Westeros]]. It is the southern-most and oldest of the Free Cities, located on the [[Summer Sea]] at the mouth of the River [[Rhoyne]]. It was founded as a colony of [[Valyria]] many centuries ago. It is a great port.<ref name="Volantis Viewers Guide">[http://viewers-guide.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/season2/#!/locations/volantis/ HBO viewers guide, season 2 map, Volantis entry]</ref>

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'''Volantis''' is one of the [[Free Cities]] located east of [[Westeros]]. It is the southern-most and oldest of the Free Cities, located on the southern coast of [[Essos]] along the [[Summer Sea]], at the mouth of the [[Rhoyne]] River. It was founded as a colony of [[Valyria]] many centuries ago. It is a great port.<ref name="Volantis Viewers Guide">[http://viewers-guide.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/season2/#!/locations/volantis/ HBO viewers guide, season 2 map, Volantis entry]</ref>

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People from Volantis are known as '''Volantene'''. They are ruled by the Triarchs. Only those who can trace their lineage back to the times of Valyria may become candidates to the post of Triarch. The city welcomes a mixture of religions but holds a large temple devoted to the worship of the [[Lord of Light]].<ref name="Volantis Viewers Guide"/>

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People from Volantis are known as '''Volantene'''. They are ruled by the [[Triarch]]s. Only those who can trace their lineage back to the times of Valyria may become candidates to the post of Triarch. The city welcomes a mixture of religions but holds a large temple devoted to the worship of the [[Lord of Light]].<ref name="Volantis Viewers Guide"/>

The harbor metropolis lies on both sides of one of the many mouths of the Rhoyne. The river is spanned by a great structure known as the [[Long Bridge]].<ref>"[[The Old Gods and the New]]"</ref>

The harbor metropolis lies on both sides of one of the many mouths of the Rhoyne. The river is spanned by a great structure known as the [[Long Bridge]].<ref>"[[The Old Gods and the New]]"</ref>

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Volantis is ruled by a noble class, but also possesses large number of slaves. Slavesaretattooed on the faceso they are easily identified. A fish tattoo indicates that the slave works on a fishing vessel. In Volantis, it is death for a slave to touch a noble.<ref>"[[The Prince of Winterfell]]"</ref>

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Volantis is ruled by a noble class, but also possesses large number of [[Slavery|slaves]]. Theslave-masters in Volantis have a very organized system for their slaves, giving them small tattoos on the leftcheek of their faces that symbolize what tasks they are assigned to and so they can be easily identified as slaves: flies for dung shovelers, hammers for builders, tears for whores, etc.<ref name="S5EP03">"[[High Sparrow (episode)]]"</ref> A fish tattoo indicates that the slave works on a fishing vessel. In Volantis, it is death for a slave to touch a noble.<ref>"[[The Prince of Winterfell]]"</ref>

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The Volantene look down on [[Westeros]]i, regarding them as unrefined, "grim, stinking barbarians".

==Notable Volantenes==

==Notable Volantenes==

* {[[Talisa Stark]], née Maegyr}, a noblewoman of the [[Maegyr family]] who relocated to [[Westeros]] where she undertook medical practice and eventually married the [[King in the North]], [[Robb Stark]]. Killed in the [[Red Wedding]] by [[Lothar Frey]].

* {[[Talisa Stark]], née Maegyr}, a noblewoman of the [[Maegyr family]] who relocated to [[Westeros]] where she undertook medical practice and eventually married the [[King in the North]], [[Robb Stark]]. Killed in the [[Red Wedding]] by [[Lothar Frey]].

The wineseller in the market at [[Vaes Dothrak]] boasts of his fine wine from Volantis, [[the Arbor]] and [[Dorne]].<ref>"[[You Win or You Die]]"</ref>

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The [[wineseller]] in the market at [[Vaes Dothrak]] boasts of his fine wine from Volantis, [[the Arbor]] and [[Dorne]].<ref>"[[You Win or You Die]]"</ref>

===[[Season 2]]===

===[[Season 2]]===

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Robb and Talisa later discuss why she became a healer. She reveals that one summer, her little brother nearly drowned in the Rhoyne and was saved by a slave.<ref>"[[The Prince of Winterfell]]"</ref>

Robb and Talisa later discuss why she became a healer. She reveals that one summer, her little brother nearly drowned in the Rhoyne and was saved by a slave.<ref>"[[The Prince of Winterfell]]"</ref>

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===[[Season 5]]===

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While traveling from [[Pentos]] to [[Meereen]], [[Tyrion Lannister]] and [[Varys]] stop in Volantis and walk along the Long Bridge.<ref name="S5EP03"/>

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==Behind the scenes==

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The famous [[Wikipedia:Roman bridge of Córdoba|Roman bridge of Córdoba]] in Spain was used as a stand-in for the [[Long Bridge]] of Volantis - though the real bridge was then augmented with CGI to make it look proportionately larger and to add buildings and markets atop it, as the Long Bridge is described in the novels.

==In the books==

==In the books==

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Volantis is divided in two halves by the Rhoyne. The western side of the city is open to foreigners, traders and merchants. The eastern side contains the inner city, which is protected by the 200-foot-tall Black Walls. The Black Walls are wide enough for six four-horse chariots to ride along its top abreast. Slaves, foreigners and freedmen are not permitted within the Black Walls. The main waterway is bridged by the Long Bridge, a structure so large it can take hours to cross if traffic is very heavy.

Volantis is divided in two halves by the Rhoyne. The western side of the city is open to foreigners, traders and merchants. The eastern side contains the inner city, which is protected by the 200-foot-tall Black Walls. The Black Walls are wide enough for six four-horse chariots to ride along its top abreast. Slaves, foreigners and freedmen are not permitted within the Black Walls. The main waterway is bridged by the Long Bridge, a structure so large it can take hours to cross if traffic is very heavy.

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Volantis is known as the Firstborn of Valyria. Of the colony-states that eventually became the Free Cities, Volantis maintained the closest ties to Valyria and carried on its traditions the most stringently. After the Doom of Valyria, the rulers of Volantis petitioned the [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]] on [[Dragonstone]] to helpthemin subduing the other cities and forging a new Valyrian Empireonthemainland,buttheTargaryensrefused,laterinsteadpreferringtomount an invasion of [[Westeros]]. Volantis attempted to carveout this empire by themselves anyway, at one point extending their control to their fellow cities of [[Lys]] and [[Myr]] for two generations, but a later attempt to conquer [[Tyrosh]] saw them overstretch themselves. Braavos, [[Pentos]], and the Westerosi Storm King entered the war on Tyrosh's side, and in the resulting struggle Volantis was defeated. The struggle over the territories that had changed hands in the war created the [[Disputed Lands]]. Further attempts to extend Volantene power eastwards failed, with a fleet sent to reclaim Valyria being lost in the [[Smoking Sea]], and the Dothraki overrunning all the lands east of the Rhoyne. In the north, Qohorik fireships broke Volantis' attempts to control the entire Rhoyne river network, restricting Volantis' influence to south of the ruins of [[Chroyane]]. The Century of Blood left Volantis bankrupt and anarchic, and traders, merchants and more moderate leaders took control of the city and have effectively ruled it ever since.

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Volantis is known as the Firstborn of Valyria. Of the colony-states that eventually became the Free Cities, Volantis maintained the closest ties to Valyria and carried on its traditions the most stringently. Immediately after the Doom of Valyria four centuries ago, the rulers of Volantis tried to subdueallof the other Free Cities and reforge a new Valyrian empire,resultinginadecades-longseriesofchaoticwarsknownasthe[[Century of Blood]]. Volantis managed to conquerand control their fellow cities of [[Lys]] and [[Myr]] for two generations.

Afterahundredyearsof warfare, Volantiswasonthevergeofalsoconquering[[Tyrosh]].Atthispointtheypetitionedthe[[HouseTargaryen|Targaryens]] on [[Dragonstone]] to help themwith the aid of their[[dragons]]buttheyoung[[AegonITargaryen]]refused,andinsteadsidedwithVolantis'senemies.VolantishadoverreachedinitsoffensiveagainstTyrosh, andnowagreatallianceformedagainstthem. BraavosandPentosjoinedthewaronTyrosh'sside,andalsosupportedsuccessfuluprisingsinLys andMyr. AegonTargaryenalsojoinedthealliancewithhisyoungdragons, gainingthemvaluablebattleexperience.Eventhekingof[[theStormlands]]inWesterosjoinedtheallianceagainstVolantis.Faced with so many enemies, Volantiswasdefeated.

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Volantis remains the centeroftheslave-tradingindustry in theFreeCities, andmaintainsseaandlandlinkswith [[Slaver'sBay]] hundreds of milesto the east. Volantisprefersapolicy of neutrality and gettingrichonitsslavetrading,butitslocationon the south-easternedge of the DisputedLandsseesitsometimesdrawnintowarfarewithLys,Myr, andTyroshfor control of the region.

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At the sametime,Volantishad overextended itself evenfurther in attemptstoexpand eastwards, whichsimilarlycollapsed.Anentirefleetsent to reclaim Old Valyria became lost in the [[SmokingSea]] - a fleet which was already badly needed in the losing struggle against the coalition of theirenemies in the west. Moreover,nolongerrestrained by the power of the Valyrians and theirdragons,the[[Dothraki]]mountedhordesbeganoverrunningallof the landseast of the Rhoyne:duetoitseasternlocationVolantiswasparticularlyhardhit. In the north, Qohorikfireshipsbroke Volantis' attempts to control the entire Rhoyne river network, restricting Volantis' influence to south of the ruins of [[Chroyane]].

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The Century of Blood left Volantis bankrupt and in chaos. Traders, merchants, and more moderate leaders took control of the city and have effectively ruled it ever since. Meanwhile, the coalition against Volantis soon collapsed as Lys and Myr turned into bitter enemies, struggling over the central border territories which had frequently changed hands during the course of the war. Lys and Myr have continued to fight over these territories over the past three hundred years until the present day (broken up by the occasional truce).

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Volantis is still a freehold, like Valyria before it. All freeborn landholders - including women - are entitled to vote in elections to choose the rulers of the city. Three freeholders - the triarchs - rule for a period of one year, during which time they travel everywhere by elephant, as their feet are not allowed to touch the ground. The triarchs must come from noble families that can prove an unbroken line of descent from Valyria. The traders and other moderate factions call themselves the "elephants", while those who favor military expansion are known as "tigers". The tigers have been out of favor for the three hundred years since the Century of Blood, never holding more than one position in the triumvirate.

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Volantis remains the center of the [[Slavery|slave trade]] in the Free Cities, and maintains sea and land links with [[Slaver's Bay]] hundreds of miles to the east. There are five slaves in Volantis for each free man, a ratio surpassing even that of the cities in Slaver's Bay itself. Volantis prefers a policy of neutrality and getting rich on its slave trading, but its location on the south-eastern edge of the [[Disputed Lands]] sees it sometimes drawn into warfare with Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh for control of the region.

==See also==

==See also==

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* [http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Volantis Volantis at A Wiki of Ice and Fire] (MAJOR spoilers from the books)

"Volantis is the oldest, the first colony of Valyria. After the Doom, the Volantenes tried to rebuild the empire under their rule. They failed. Not least because the last Valyrian with dragons, Aegon Targaryen, entered the war against them. Now they are content to dominate only their lower classes, or so they say."

Volantis is one of the Free Cities located east of Westeros. It is the southern-most and oldest of the Free Cities, located on the southern coast of Essos along the Summer Sea, at the mouth of the Rhoyne River. It was founded as a colony of Valyria many centuries ago. It is a great port.[1]

People from Volantis are known as Volantene. They are ruled by the Triarchs. Only those who can trace their lineage back to the times of Valyria may become candidates to the post of Triarch. The city welcomes a mixture of religions but holds a large temple devoted to the worship of the Lord of Light.[1]

The harbor metropolis lies on both sides of one of the many mouths of the Rhoyne. The river is spanned by a great structure known as the Long Bridge.[2]

Volantis is ruled by a noble class, but also possesses large number of slaves. The slave-masters in Volantis have a very organized system for their slaves, giving them small tattoos on the left cheek of their faces that symbolize what tasks they are assigned to and so they can be easily identified as slaves: flies for dung shovelers, hammers for builders, tears for whores, etc.[3] A fish tattoo indicates that the slave works on a fishing vessel. In Volantis, it is death for a slave to touch a noble.[4]

The Volantene look down on Westerosi, regarding them as unrefined, "grim, stinking barbarians".

The famous Roman bridge of Córdoba in Spain was used as a stand-in for the Long Bridge of Volantis - though the real bridge was then augmented with CGI to make it look proportionately larger and to add buildings and markets atop it, as the Long Bridge is described in the novels.

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Volantis (sometimes called Old Volantis) is the oldest, largest, and the most populous of the Free Cities, but also the most corrupt. Its vast, crescent-shaped harbor could contain the entirety of Braavos within it. The city is located on the mouth of the River Rhoyne, which spills into the Summer Sea through a large delta. Volantis lies on both sides of the main mouth of the river and is protected from the Dothraki by further mouths of the river to the east.

Volantis is divided in two halves by the Rhoyne. The western side of the city is open to foreigners, traders and merchants. The eastern side contains the inner city, which is protected by the 200-foot-tall Black Walls. The Black Walls are wide enough for six four-horse chariots to ride along its top abreast. Slaves, foreigners and freedmen are not permitted within the Black Walls. The main waterway is bridged by the Long Bridge, a structure so large it can take hours to cross if traffic is very heavy.

Volantis is known as the Firstborn of Valyria. Of the colony-states that eventually became the Free Cities, Volantis maintained the closest ties to Valyria and carried on its traditions the most stringently. Immediately after the Doom of Valyria four centuries ago, the rulers of Volantis tried to subdue all of the other Free Cities and reforge a new Valyrian empire, resulting in a decades-long series of chaotic wars known as the Century of Blood. Volantis managed to conquer and control their fellow cities of Lys and Myr for two generations.

After a hundred years of warfare, Volantis was on the verge of also conquering Tyrosh. At this point they petitioned the Targaryens on Dragonstone to help them with the aid of their dragons but the young Aegon I Targaryen refused, and instead sided with Volantis's enemies. Volantis had overreached in its offensive against Tyrosh, and now a great alliance formed against them. Braavos and Pentos joined the war on Tyrosh's side, and also supported successful uprisings in Lys and Myr. Aegon Targaryen also joined the alliance with his young dragons, gaining them valuable battle experience. Even the king of the Stormlands in Westeros joined the alliance against Volantis. Faced with so many enemies, Volantis was defeated.

At the same time, Volantis had overextended itself even further in attempts to expand eastwards, which similarly collapsed. An entire fleet sent to reclaim Old Valyria became lost in the Smoking Sea - a fleet which was already badly needed in the losing struggle against the coalition of their enemies in the west. Moreover, no longer restrained by the power of the Valyrians and their dragons, the Dothraki mounted hordes began overrunning all of the lands east of the Rhoyne: due to its eastern location Volantis was particularly hard hit. In the north, Qohorik fireships broke Volantis' attempts to control the entire Rhoyne river network, restricting Volantis' influence to south of the ruins of Chroyane.

The Century of Blood left Volantis bankrupt and in chaos. Traders, merchants, and more moderate leaders took control of the city and have effectively ruled it ever since. Meanwhile, the coalition against Volantis soon collapsed as Lys and Myr turned into bitter enemies, struggling over the central border territories which had frequently changed hands during the course of the war. Lys and Myr have continued to fight over these territories over the past three hundred years until the present day (broken up by the occasional truce).

Volantis is still a freehold, like Valyria before it. All freeborn landholders - including women - are entitled to vote in elections to choose the rulers of the city. Three freeholders - the triarchs - rule for a period of one year, during which time they travel everywhere by elephant, as their feet are not allowed to touch the ground. The triarchs must come from noble families that can prove an unbroken line of descent from Valyria. The traders and other moderate factions call themselves the "elephants", while those who favor military expansion are known as "tigers". The tigers have been out of favor for the three hundred years since the Century of Blood, never holding more than one position in the triumvirate.

Volantis remains the center of the slave trade in the Free Cities, and maintains sea and land links with Slaver's Bay hundreds of miles to the east. There are five slaves in Volantis for each free man, a ratio surpassing even that of the cities in Slaver's Bay itself. Volantis prefers a policy of neutrality and getting rich on its slave trading, but its location on the south-eastern edge of the Disputed Lands sees it sometimes drawn into warfare with Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh for control of the region.